Carrie Talbott Carrie Talbott

Jesus Follower | Word Stringer | Avocado Eater

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  • Books,  Entertainment,  Faith,  Music,  Reading

    Favorite Books & Music of 2019

    January 11, 2020 /

    Don’t you just love a good list that you don’t have to come up with yourself? I’ve compiled my favorites for ya, fat-free and full of flavor, so all you have to do is click the pics and join me. Great books are the gifts that keep on giving through this new month, year and decade. Feliz Año Nuevo, Amigos! Books 1. Braving the Wilderness, by Brené Brown The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone I mostly feel like I belong, and I feel fairly courageous, so I didn’t think I needed this book. #wrong  So. Many. Great. Points. 2. The President is Missing, by James…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    New Media to Buy for Yourself and Give Away: 4 Books and 2 Songs by My Talented Author Friends

    March 17, 2023

    All I Want for Christmas This Year is a Book. And Star Wars Baby Yoda.

    December 12, 2020

    Fun Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

    May 1, 2020
  • Attitude,  Faith,  Honesty,  Humility,  Missionary Secrets,  Parenting,  Patience,  Pride

    The Hungry Games

    May 18, 2019 /

    (Shared with permission) Age: nine Child: mine Attitude: fine Until it wasn’t.  When one of our kids got in trouble for a garden-variety no-no, I figured the next steps would resemble the rest. Too tall to spank and not naughty enough to ground, I sent him to the back room where his timeout minutes matched his age. He knew the rule: any yelling or screaming made the time start over.  Normally, regret bubbled and his demeanor recovered before I returned. But this time it elevated from mad to angry to ballistic in way less than nine minutes.  In a house on a foundation, the muffled sounds of fists beating floors…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Dumbing Down Our Kids: 11 Rules of Life to Challenge the Teens in Your Life

    September 21, 2019

    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    Lord of the Flaws

    October 6, 2018
  • Attitude,  Faith,  Humility,  Judging

    What the What? Didn’t See THAT Comin’

    March 30, 2019 /

    I cooked in my kitchen when the house phone rang. “Sharri has cancer.” I sat in his Jeep when he told me we were done. “I’m loving you more than I’m loving Jesus.” I stood on my college campus when I read, “You have not been selected for the position.”  I walked through a Costco parking lot when he called. “Carrie? He’s gone.” I soaked in a jacuzzi when I realized I was the only one not invited to a party. I rode in a van when her voice shook through my cell. “She’s probably not going to make it through the evening.” You didn’t see life comin’ either? It’s…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    8 Things I’m Teaching My American Pre-Adults in Mexico

    November 12, 2016

    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    The Circus Next Door

    March 5, 2016
  • Attitude,  Faith,  Honesty,  Humility,  Pride

    Praying for Closed Doors

    January 26, 2019 /

    “I don’t know which college to pick. I got into these two schools and I like them equally, but I’m afraid to pick the wrong one.” When we ran a GAP-year program in Baja, MX, each class of students lived with us from August to June. They were all recent high school graduates and no one had lived away from home yet.  Tied in knots between quality universities, we watched them makes lists of pros and cons and worry for weeks, sometimes months.  Cal Baptist or Moody? Point Loma or Liberty? Baylor or Westmont? Azusa or Biola? If you attended one of those schools, you most likely have a gut…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    Dealing with Disappointment: 5 Things I Learned from a Rough Family Vacation Last Week

    August 5, 2022

    Lord of the Flaws

    October 6, 2018
  • Faith,  Gratitude,  Parenting,  Patience

    A Loss, a Baby & Secondary Infertility: What I Learned While Waiting to Get Pregnant

    September 1, 2018 /

      After five years of marriage, my husband and I decided we wanted a baby.  Sad to say, I don’t recall checking with God much about this, but He didn’t send a concerned email so I laid my clothes on the bed next to Doug’s and bam—prego. Phone calls, nursery plans and a roomy pair of overalls became the norm. Until I went in for my first ultrasound at twelve weeks and the technician looked strange.  Nice lady, but I could tell she couldn’t tell, so I studied her face.  “Everything okay?” “The doctor will go over everything with you.” “I thought there would be a heartbeat by now.” “He’ll…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Morning Has Broken Me: Why Early Peace & Quiet Usually Wins the Daily Struggle Over Sleeping In

    April 12, 2024

    10 Años of Blessings… and Mud

    February 27, 2016

    Faithful Goodness Lyrics Meaning: How a Deep Dive Into the Song’s Message Can Change You

    June 13, 2025
  • Attitude,  Faith,  Gratitude,  Humility,  Missionary Shenanigans,  Neighbors

    When You Don’t Wanna Bloom Where You’re Planted

    July 21, 2018 /

      When the Mary Englebreit craze invaded 1996, I joined millions of other fans and hung her calendar on my wall. I liked her one-two faith punch: “Everything is a risk. What if it doesn’t work out?”  “Oh—but what if it does?” Over the years my floral style changed, but I now see that she produces black and white art, and her sayings/phrases are clever with a side of sass. For example, you’ll find these on some of her recent cards: “When you thought everything would be easy peasy lemon squeezy, but it’s actually difficult, difficult, lemon difficult.” “When life shuts a door, open it again. It’s a door. That’s how…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    Dumbing Down Our Kids: 11 Rules of Life to Challenge the Teens in Your Life

    September 21, 2019

    Dealing with Disappointment: 5 Things I Learned from a Rough Family Vacation Last Week

    August 5, 2022

    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021
  • Faith,  Friends,  Gratitude,  Honesty

    The Day I Deleted Her Info: Saying Goodbye to a Lifelong Friend

    June 18, 2018 /

    Just because two sets of parents are good friends doesn’t mean their offspring will follow suit. So was the case with Chelsea and me. We saw each other every summer at Mount Hermon and ran through camp together while our parents hung out and caught up. It took 358 days to bring us together again, and we continued that pattern through childhood and adolescence. I’m writing a book for a woman about grit and resilience. Besides living in another country for 12 years, I haven’t had many events or occasions that forced me to dig in and claw my way out. And in a weird way, I feel bad about…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Carols In The Closet

    February 20, 2016

    Faithful Goodness Lyrics Meaning: How a Deep Dive Into the Song’s Message Can Change You

    June 13, 2025

    Easter Fail

    March 26, 2016
  • Faith,  Stress

    Do It Afraid: Public Speaking Through Anxiety, Fear and Nerves

    April 12, 2018 /

      “No Fear,” claims the American lifestyle clothing brand. “Fear not,” the preacher says.  “Do not be afraid,” Jesus commands. Sounds brave. Courageous. Bold. I want that; I’m guessing you probably do too.   Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash   But we’re human. And some of us deal with fear. How we deal with fear is the difference between surviving and thriving.  One introverted kid says talking to the teacher is too intimidating. Your extroverted self loved your teachers so that doesn’t make any sense to you. Another can barely ask the waiter where the bathroom is. Come on, dude. Waiters don’t bite. For one man it might be…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Carols In The Closet

    February 20, 2016

    Morning Has Broken Me: Why Early Peace & Quiet Usually Wins the Daily Struggle Over Sleeping In

    April 12, 2024
    Trailer Life Baja Mexico Missionary

    Home Sweet Trailer in Baja: Abraham’s Forever Faith in My Face

    February 6, 2021
  • Faith,  Mexico,  Missionary Shenanigans,  South of the Border

    Finishing Well. Sort Of: Moving to Another Country When You’d Rather Not

    July 1, 2017 /

      Did you know you’re never supposed to start a sentence with a number in the shape of a number? 11 years ago we had recently moved to Porvenir. We felt rather pale. And tall. 9 months ago we thought we might move back to the States. I didn’t want to. 7 weeks ago I stopped packing for our move and celebrated my last Mother’s Day in Mexico. 5 days ago Doug moved our fridge and beds into our new rental. Weird. 3 hours ago our real estate agent moved through our home with his tripod, clickety-clicking his way from the calle to the bodega to the baño. 1 minute ago…

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    Carrie Talbott

    You May Also Like

    Easter Fail

    March 26, 2016

    Do It Afraid: Public Speaking Through Anxiety, Fear and Nerves

    April 12, 2018

    Morning Has Broken Me: Why Early Peace & Quiet Usually Wins the Daily Struggle Over Sleeping In

    April 12, 2024
  • Attitude,  Faith

    Juggle or Battle? Not Comparing Pain or Circumstances

    January 21, 2017 /

      Renewed inspiration! Fresh starts! Excellent intentions! Or not. For numerous people the idea of making big changes in January usually conveys feelings of, “Why bother?” or “It didn’t work last year,” or my personal favorite, “Tomorrow. Yeah, definitely tomorrow.” When we started our student-based ministry eleven years ago I wondered if my structured life might ever return. This mainly irritated me because I’m a bit of a perfectionist by nature – organized, systematic, color-coded, logical, and… tired. Even with our students gone now I still err on the side of weary and bitter, but not purposely. Between juggling marriage, motherhood, housework, exercise, neighbors, newsletters, blog posts and a 25-page…

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    Carrie Talbott

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    Christmas Eve Chaos: The One Where We Went to Church Dirty and Avoided Our Friends

    December 3, 2021

    The Circus Next Door

    March 5, 2016

    Working Moms: Killin’ It or Barely Makin’ It?

    February 16, 2019
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Welcome!

You’re here! And I’m Carrie. From full-time camp kid to unconventional missionary for 12 años in a 3rd-world country, I’m now a profesh organizer and writer who loves plants and guac. Life is short, so I’m smiling while I have all my teeth, but I still have issues. Always remember… when life hands you lemons, give them back. You deserve avocados.

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